The twine that binds

December 20, 2011

More than 1,100 people will have a great meal this Christmas thanks to the generosity of others in their community.

Hundreds of children will find gifts waiting for them on Christmas morning thanks to the generosity of others in their community.

They may sometimes bicker, and they may sometimes get angry, but there is one thread that runs through this county like a stout twine that binds it together - giving.

Each year the gymnasium at the Salvation Army Citadel is filled to bursting with food and toys, with clothing and necessities that have been donated by the community or purchased with money dropped into red kettles around the county.

It is testimony not only to the dedication of the Army, but to those hundreds, perhaps thousands, of nameless donors who put others ahead of themselves at Christmas.

And, it's not just confined to the halls of the Salvation Army, the philanthropy extends through Toys for Tots, local churches and organizations that collect warm coats, prepare meals for shut-ins, and most of all, offer a smile, a handshake and even a hug to those for whom the season of joy would have passed without notice.

For some, the impetus is a faith in God that calls them to provide for the less fortunate. For others, it is an inherent sense of compassion.

Whatever the motivation, it preserves this area as a community and tells others that Warren County cares a great deal.